Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures.

This Regulation lays down technical measures concerning: (a) the taking and landing of marine biological resources; (b) the operation of fishing gear; and (c) the interaction of fishing activities with marine ecosystems. The Regulation applies to activities pursued by European Union fishing vessels and nationals of Member States, in the fishing zones referred to in Article 5, as well as by fishing vessels flying the flag of, and registered in, third countries when fishing in European Union waters. In accordance with the objectives outlined under the Common Fisheries Policy, technical measures shall in particular contribute to achieving the following objectives: (a) optimise exploitation patterns to provide protection for juveniles and spawning aggregations of marine biological resources; (b) ensure that incidental catches of sensitive marine species, including those listed under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, that are a result of fishing, are minimised and where possible eliminated so that they do not represent a threat to the conservation status of these species; (c) minimise the negative environmental impacts of fishing on marine habitats; (d) have in place fisheries management measures for the purposes of complying with Directives 92/43/EEC, 2000/60/EC and 2008/56/EC, in particular with a view to achieving good environmental status in line with Article 9(1) of Directive 2008/56/EC, and with Directive 2009/147/EC.
Common technical measures are set out. They include provisions on prohibited fishing gear and methods; general restrictions on gear and conditions for their use; protection of sensitive species and their habitats; catches of marine mammals, seabirds and marine reptiles; protection of vulnerable marine ecosystems; minimum conservation reference sizes; measures to reduce discarding.
Further technical measures are laid down for specific regions, as specified in the Annexes attached: the North Sea, North Western Waters, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, Union waters in the Indian Ocean and the West Atlantic.
The Regulation is composed of the following Chapters: I) General provisions; II) Common technical measures; III) Regionalisation; IV) Scientific research, direct restocking and transplantation; V) Conditions in relation to mesh size specifications; VI) Technical measures in the NEAFC Regulatory Area; VII) Procedural provisions; VIII) Final provisions.